James Earl Langford

James Earl Langford of Abilene passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Odessa, Texas. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Rev. Stan Allcorn will be officiating the service. James was born in Goldthwaite, Texas, to Ernest and Margaret Langford on October 19, 1929. He graduated from Brownwood High School, and received his BS from Howard Payne University in 1956 and MED from Texas Tech University in 1961. He married Jayne Denson on June 7, 1952, in Brownwood, Texas. He worked as a coach, teacher, principal and school administrator. He began his coaching and teaching career in Hale Center, Texas, where he took the girls basketball team to the state tournament in 1960. He coached and taught in Abilene ISD between 1962-1968 and became Assistant Principal from 1968-1974 at Abilene High School. He was the Sweetwater High School Principal from 1974-1977. He was superintendent of Hale Center ISD from 1977-1979. In the years between 1979-1982, he was the Director of Secondary School for Ector County ISD. From 1982-1987, he was the Assistant Superintendent for Business for the San Angelo ISD. In 1987, he retired from the school business and moved back to Abilene to continue ranching interests in Callahan County, Texas. He was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. He had the opportunity to serve as deacon at several Baptist churches throughout the years. He was a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Texas associated with the John Sayles Lodge in Abilene and the Lemond Lodge in Hale Center. James was preceded in death by his parents; Ernest and Margaret Langford; a daughter, Thyra Margaret Langford; a sister, Wanda Graham; and a brother, Al Langford. James is survived by Thyra Jane Langford, spouse; Mark Langford, son; and Mike Langford, son and wife, Debbie; and grandchildren Tyler Langford, Jackson Langford, Lauren Margaret Langford, Megan Langford and Hanna Langford; sister, Nell Bishop; and brother, Robert Langford; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice. The family of James E. Langford wishes to extend our sincere thanks to caregivers at Orchard Park of the Permian Basin for the gracious and loving care extended to James over the last several years.